The High Court (HC) has declared that trial proceedings for Zia Charitable Trust graft case can go ahead without incarcerated BNP chief Khaleda Zia, present in the court.

The HC bench of Justice Obaildul Hassan and Justice SM Kuddus Zaman gave the order on Sunday rejecting a plea by the former premier’s counsels.

Lawyers said that there are no legal barriers now in proceeding with the charitable trust graft case trial following the court’s order.

Lawyers AJ Mohammad Ali and Zainul Abedin moved for Khaleda while the Anti Corruption Commission was represented by Khurshid Alam Khan.

On Sept 20, Dhaka Special Judge-5 Md Akhtaruzzaman ordered the trial proceedings to go ahead without Khaleda after the BNP chief repeatedly refused to appear before the court

Khaleda's counsels challenged the decision and filed a revision petition with the High Court on Sept 27.

A three-time prime minister, Khaleda, was sentenced to five-year jail term for embezzling foreign donations made to the Zia Orphanage Trust.

She has been serving her sentence at the capital’s old jailhouse in Dhaka since the court’s verdict on Feb 8 until Oct 6 when she was transferred to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for her medical treatment.